Irradiation of the rabbit cornea with UVB rays stimulates the expression of nitric oxide synthases-generated nitric oxide and the formation of cytotoxic nitrogen-related oxidants.

Until now, the role of nitric oxide (NO) in cornea irradiated with UVB rays remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated nitric oxide synthase isomers (NOS), enzymes that generate NO, nitrotyrosine (NT), a cytotoxic byproduct of NO, and malondialdehyde (MDA), a byproduct of lipid peroxidation, in rabbit corneas repeatedly irradiated with UVB rays (312 nm, 1x daily for 6 days, the dose per day 1.01 J/cm2) using immunohistochemical methods. The biochemical measurement of nitrite and nitrate has been used for the indirect investigation of NO concentration in the aqueous humor. Results show that in contrast to normal corneas, where of the NOS isomers only endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) was expressed in a significant amount (in the epithelium and endothelium), in irradiated corneas all NOS isomers (also brain nitric oxide synthase, NOS1, and inducible nitric oxide synthase, NOS2) as well as an indirect measure of ONOO-formation and MDA were gradually expressed, first in the epithelium, the endothelium and the keratocytes beneath the epithelium and finally in the cells of all corneal layers and the inflammatory cells that invaded the corneal stroma. This was accompanied by an elevated concentration of NO in the aqueous humor. In conclusion, repeated irradiation with UVB rays evoked the stimulation of NO production, peroxynitrite formation (demonstrated by NT residues) and lipid peroxidation (evaluated by MDA staining).